Vehicle-wheel



l. L. COHEN.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILEDIEB. 20. 1920.

wanted Sept. 6,

IIHI

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.rosnr'irn COHEN, or NEW vonk, NY.

marilena-WHEEL. Y i

To all 'whom'z't may concern: K

Be it known that I, JosrH L. COHEN, a citizen ofthe United States,` anda resident of the borough of Manhattan, inthe city, county, and Stateoi` New York, vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-lllheels, of which the "following is a specilication.

The present invention relatesA to vehicle wheels, and particularlywheels Vof the re silient type, an object of the invention being toprovide a wheel of great inherent strength,

and at the same time of a resiliency so re- Y sponsiv'e to the roughconditions of road usage Aas to so absorb and Vannihilate the shocks asto prevent their being felttto any' extent by the occupants of thevehicle.

` I particularly proposeito provide :an improved form of spring spokeandv azcoperating spring rim adapted; as willhei-einafter appear, todeflect asA obstructions 9are .enA

countered and to eifectually absorb the shock within the wheel, and inwhich the defiected portion will immediately return to normal position.f f y Y 1 An object of the invention-is'to provide a tire carryingflanged rim rendered resilient by means of spaced points o-deflectioncapa-1 ble of local deflection to a substantially-large degree, andwhich will coperatevwith the spring spoke members inV a manner as toVrender the wheel inherently absorbent .to

shocks. u

I, further kpropose to provide .improved spoke members, and which may bereferred to as spoke groups, in whichaplurality of spring memberscoperate about aV singlel radialaxis,` toA provide a compressible andexpansible support between the hub and the rim, and in which thecooperating'springs` are so variably tensioned as to produce com-'Ipensating and assisting moments .adapted f' to render thewheel Aofgreatstrength, pro-fV duce a quick return to normal position,:and

prevent crystallization Y or 1 other destructive conditions due toanexcessiveuse of the springs. The spoke groups are =especially` feffective in taking up and resisting the strains from torque, and sideforce, and pro vide a positive transmissionv of the rotary propellingforcezbetween the hub andthe Another objectof the invention vis-to pro-Applieation led February 20, 1920. SeriailNo. 360,058. 4

vide wvarim which will permit ofqnick inountingand removal Of the 'tesWith facility;

sliecieeaaa if reliefs Parent. Y lmfelted' Sptf, 1921 -z permitting tirechanges upon'the road` with 'i out great inconvenience or loss of time.'

vA further general object'of the invention is to providea lconstructionlending itself to modern methods of manufacture yto the end that thesame may be producedzquickly,

in lgreat quantities and at comparativelyy small cost. j -1 With'theseand other objects in View, em-` bodiments of my invention yareshowninthe accompanying drawings, andtheser embodi-l ments willhereinafter be more fully set forth, claims. 1 In' the drawings:

and eventually pointed out kinv the Figure. l is va side'elevation'of avehicle *i wheel embodying one form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge View partly in section,

vthe section being takenalong the -line 2 2 of Fig. l; v Y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a porition of the rim, and`showingthe outsidefof i' Fig.' 4 is a similar -view ,showing theinside'- f V f Figs, A5, 6"and i7 arejtransv'erse sectional views ofthevrimA taken-respectively alon the lines 5-5, r (,3--6 and,A 7-7'ofFigyll;

Fig.z8 is an' end View of a modified form of hub'. construction, and, y

"Fig, 9 is longitudinal vertical sectional' viewv thereof. f -Y Similarreference characters indicatefcor` responding parts'of the several`figures of the drawings. f

Referring to.: the ticularly tor Figs. land 2 theref,-t he embodimentof4 myy invention shown therein drawings, and more par-` comprises acylindrical hub 10 provided atl i its-rear endwith a laterally extendingflange ll secured inthe case of the reaijwheel to thebrake drum 12 byineansof nuts and bolts 12a, andfprovided with a central axle engaginghub .13, connected thereto by integral longitudinally extending radiallyydisposed jlan-ges'o'r ribs 13f,the-hub` 13'project-- ing beyond. thehub 1,0,and being screw threaded, as at lrand provided with alcap orcover plate' lcclosing the space'between the hubs-10 and`13.-

' The rim telly 14E isin the` form ofL a coni-2L tinuous leizible band,flat in cross section, and unflanged, and between the felly and the hubthe spoke groups are arranged and secured, the tire carrying rim, aswill presently be more fully pointed out, being removably mounted uponthe felly.

The spoke groups each comprise a plural-` ity of bowed spring membersarranged about p a common radial axis, these members being four innumber in the present embodiment, two of the members, 15 and 16 beingoppositely bowed, having their concave sides toward eachother andarranged with their edges parallel to theplane of rotation of the wheel,and "having rtheir wide* surfaces at right angles thereto, these membersbeing substantially wide and of gradually decreasing width towardtheirouter ends, and being of a width atvtheir inner ends extendingsubstantially the greater length of the hub 10. At their inner ends thespring members 15 and 16 are riveted or otherwise suitably secured tothe outer sides of U-shaped members 17, having theirbase portions 18concentricto the hub and ,riveted theretov betweenltlie'spole groups.The vlower portions 19 of the sides of the said members are parallel tothe corresponding portions of the adjacent members, while the upperportions are curved correspondingly, to the curvature of thespringmembers, which are riveted to these portions. j The members 17 areof heavy, spring material.

The outer ends of the spring members 15V and 16 are riveted to members20 and 21, corresponding substantially in shape yto the side portions ofthe members 17 and secured at their outwardly bent base portions 22 and23 to plates 24 riveted to the felly 14, these plates being bentoutwardly .at their inner ends, as at`25,and bent inwardly at theirouter ends at 26. j j

`The other two spring members 27 `and 28 of the spoke groups aredisposed at right angles to the members 15 and 16, their longitudinalaxes being in a radial plane, and are riveted at their ends to members29, 30, 31 and 32, corresponding in cross section to the members20 and21, and are secured respectively to the hub and the plate 24, beingdisposed between the attachment members of the spring members 15 and 16.

The spring members 15 and 16 are equally j spaced from ,each other attheir inner and outer ends, and the attachment members 29, 30, 31 and 32are shaped, as indicated in Fig.

1, to fit these spaces, the spring members 27 and `28 being of equalwidth throughout their length, Vand substantially narrower than themembers 15 and 16. The spacing of the attachment members 29, 30, 31 and32 from reach other is substantially greater than the spacing of theattachmentmembers of the spring members 15 and 16, Yso that while thespacing of the spring 'members 15 and 16, and 27 and 28 from each otherat their greatest points of deflection is substantially equal, thedegree of curvature of the members 15 and 16 is greater than that of themembers 27 and 28,

The spring members 15 and 16, being widerthan the members 27 and 28, areof greater curvature, their tension being greater than on the members 15and 16, and, as a result of this arrangement a compensating andassisting actiontakes place, which makes a more responsive constructionadapted to quickly return to norma'liposition; Thearrangement of themembers 27 and 2S within the members 15 and 16and about a common radialaxis, enables transmission of the rotary motion from the hub rto the rimwithout excessive turning' of the rim relative tothe hub, in otherVwords,'in a substantially positive manner, so that `the spring members15 and 16 will not be subjected todistortion from torque strains, whilevthe spring members 15 and 16`resist side force, preventing distortionfrom this source. As aresult both torque andfside force are effectually'compensated and resisted, and at the same time a thoroughly flexiblespoke structure is provided for vtaking up shock from the road.

The tire carrying rim consists of two Acir-` cumferential parts 33 and34, formed of metal, having a relatively high degree of resiliencyto'permit of local deflection' there of at theporti'on adjacent theroad, aswill more fully hereinafter appear. The rim portion33 isrelatively wider than the rim portion 34, and is provided at'its outeredge with a flange 33a, having a plurality-of spaced cut-outs 35'in linewith the axes of the spoke groups. vThe rim portion 34 is provided witha lange'34a, similar to thev flange 33, and also provided with aplurality of spacedcut-outs 35a alined with the cut-outs 35.

The felly 14, being unflanged, and of sub- I stantially greatresiliency, local deflection of the. rim is permitted.` In spacedrelation upon the inner side of the rim portion 33 there are welded orotherwise suitably secured plates 36, extendingoverupon the inner sideof the portion 34 inthe engaged position of the rimportions,beingprovided with recesses yor cutsouts 37, constituting hookportions,.andv which, upon relative cir@` cumferential turning movement'of the rim portions, are engaged Vwith'or disengaged-` rom pins 38,provided on the rim portionV 34. Similarly, the rim'` portion 34 has.welded thereonplates 39, extending over upon the rim portion- 33, andprovided'with cutouts 40, adapted to engagepins 41, provided on the rimportionr'33. AInwardly bent channels or recesses 42 are formed on thefelly Y to accommodate the plates .36 and 39; A pair of spaced pins 43are provided, upon and projecting inwardly from the rim porfectuallyretaining the rim upon the felly.

.Sufcient clearance' or play is allowed, howtion, and a singlepin 44 isprovided intermediately thereof on thev rim portion 34, and are adaptedin the disengaged position of the rim fromthe felly, 4to befengaged by asuitable lever or bar to enable the two rim portions to be `turnedrelativ-ely to each other. to either connect or-disconnect them.

kThree correspondingly positioned holes 45,

46 and 47 are provided on the felly, andare adapted to beengaged by.'`the pins when the rim is mounted to therebylock the rim portions againstturning movement relatively to each other, there being suflicientclearance between the inner surface of the rim and the outer surface ofthe felly to enable the pins to be initially engaged with the said holesin the telly, and thereupon swung into place. In proximity tothe saidholes and pins there are provided respectively in thel rim portion fellyholes 48 and 49 for the `reception of the tire valve.

In the engaged position of the rim upon the felly it is abutted at itsinnerside by the outwardly bent portions 25 of the plates 24, and isthereupon fixed in place by means of holding plates 50, mounted upon theinwardly bent portions 26 ofthe said plates 24, being provided with areduced apertured portion 51 engaged by a screw threaded stud 52 uponthesaid portion 26, and held thereon by nuts 53, the main portion engagingthe side of the flange 34a over a portion of the cut-out 35, andextending substantially at each side thereof. The inwardly bent portion26 of the plate 24 is disposed slightly inwardly of the outer surface ofthe fiange 34a, and the plate 50 is slightly offset, as at 54, formingashoulder 55, lwhich prevents turning movement of theL plate in thetightened position of the nuts, thereby efever, between these parts toenable the proper functioning of the rim. By loosening the nuts 53, theoffset portion may be moved out of engagement with the rim flange, andthe plates swung inwardly out of retaining relation. i

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of hub construction,in which the inner axle engaging hub 6() is removable from the wheel hub61.' Upon the periphery of the hub 61 ther-e are provided dovetailedribs, 63, extending from the inner edge of the hub, and upon the hub 60there are provided radially disposed longitudinally extending ribs orflanges 64, having dovetailed channels 65 engaged with the ribs 63 ofthe hub 61, outwardly extending lugs 66 at the end of the ribs 64engaging the outer wheel hub 61 limiting the position of the hub 60,screws 67 fixing the same in place.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodimentsof my vinvenlation to said rim.

tion, but it is obvious that changes may be madetherein within thespirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims;v f-Iclaimy.ff f 1. In a vehicle wheel, a"hub,spoke groups carried thereby, eachcomprising a pair of op'positely bowed spring meansfdisposed in theplane of the wheel, and a pair ofoppositely bowed'springmeans in aplaneat right angles thereto, and arranged about va radial axis, thedegree of curvature and tension of one pair of said bowed spring meansbeing greater than the degree of curvature land tension of the otherpair, and a resilient tire carrying rim mounted upon said spoke groups.

2. In a vehicle wheel, a hub, spoke groups carried thereby, eachcomprising a pair of oppositely bowed spring means disposed in the planeof the wheel, and a pair of oppositely bowed'spring means in a plane atright angles thereto, and arranged about the same radial axis, thedegree of curvature and tene sion ofone pair of said bowed spring meansbeing greater than the degree of curvature and tension of the otherpair', the spaces betweenthe adjacent spring means ofeach of saidpairsat their greatest point of deflection being substantiallyequal, and aresilient f tire carrying rim mounted upon said spoke groups.

3. In a vehicle wheel, a hub, a resilient felly, fiat in cross section,resilient spoke members therebetween, and a tire carrying rimV removablymountedon said felly, provided at its circumferential edges with tireretaining flanges, Vsaid fianges beingprovided with radially disposedcut-outs in spaced Arelation to each other, adapted to render said rimresilient.

4. In a Vehicle wheel, a hub, a resilient felly flat in cross section,resilient spoke members therebetween, and a tire carrying rim removablymounted on said felly, pro* vided at its circumferential edges with tireretaining flanges, said flanges being provided with radially disposedcut-o-uts in spaced relation to each other, substantially in radialalinement with said-resilient spoke members, and adapted to permit localdeflection of said rim. V v Y 5. In a vehicle wheel, a hub, a felly,`reA- rsilient Vspoke means therebetween, attach' ment means for` saidspoke membersV at the telly end of said spoke means, provided at one endwith outwardly bent portions projecting outwardly at one sideof 'saidfelly,

and inwardly bent portions at the other end projecting inwardly fromVthe other side of said felly, a Y tire 'carrying rim removably mountedupon said felly, abutted at one edge by said outwardly bent portions,and retaining means mount-ed upon said inwardly bent portions adapted tobe fixed in retaining re- 10 said first-mentioned hub and said innerhub,-

adapted ,to prevent'relative -turning movement of said hub, andmeansadapted to fix said inner hub relatively to lsaid first-mentioned hubVagainst longitudinal sliding movement. 3 y r In testimony that I claim`theV foregoing as my invention, I have Signed my name hereunder. l i lv f y JOSEPH L. COHEN;

